Charles D. Fraser

1935 - 2025

Charles D ("Charlie") Fraser
01/09/1935 - 09/24/2025
Charles D Fraser ("Charlie") passed away peacefully at Midland Memorial Hospital lovingly surrounded by those dear to him on September 24, 2025, just a few months shy of his 91st birthday. Charlie was born in Denver, Colorado on January 9, 1935, which happens to be the same birthday as Elvis Presley; no two people could have been more different. Although born in Colorado, Charlie was truly a product of early Texas immigrants. His grandfather Alexander Duncan Fraser, Sr and his brother immigrated from Invernesshire, Scotland as teenage boys in hopes of joining the cattle drives in Texas. Unfortunately, they missed the cattle drives, although "Grandpa" Fraser recounted later in life the stacks of buffalo bones in Ft. Worth which had been shipped by rail car for fertilizer. Grandpa eventually settled in Dallas, Texas, where Charlie's father, Alexander Duncan Fraser Junior, was born and raised. Charlie's maternal grandparents were also first-generation Texans. His grandfather, Frank Tholl was an orphan from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who made his way down the Mississippi river to work on the wharves in New Orleans. He and his brother learned of the early successes in the Texas oil business at Spindletop and soon made their way to become entrepreneurs and early Texas oil pioneers. Grandfather Tholl was one of the early success stories of Dallas and went on to build one of the first houses in the storied Swiss Avenue neighborhood. Charlie's maternal grandmother, Paulina immigrated from Poland through Galveston, Texas, and arrived in Dallas speaking no English. His mother, Juanita Fedora Tholl was a native Dallas girl. The convergence of these two families in post-Civil War Texas was emblematic of the opportunity in our great state. This would be a lasting feature of Charlie's affection for Texas. Charlie graduated from Highland Park High School in Dallas where he excelled academically and on the athletic fields. "The University" was the only choice for college and Charlie but matriculated in the school of petroleum engineering at the University of Texas - Austin in 1952, also joining the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Lifelong professional and personal relationships were forged during his six years in Austin where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in petroleum engineering in 1956 and then completed his master's thesis in reservoir engineering in 1958.
Along the course of his college career, Charlie met and married Margaret Lee Preston, a University of Texas beauty, and to that marriage two boys ensued, Charles D. Fraser, Jr and Alexander Duncan Fraser. Following completion of his masters, Charles was asked to stay on the faculty of the University of Texas by his mentor Professor Fancher, who would be oft quoted during the course of Charlie's life ("believe nothing, question everything, and demand proof"). Charles was more interested in the applied aspects of the oil industry and went to work for Magnolia in their engineering training program which took him and Margaret to Big Spring, Texas, Portales, New Mexico and eventually to Midland, Texas in 1960.
Midland would be Charlie's home for the rest of his life, and he had a profound affection for the city in the "land of the high skies" of West Texas. To the end, he marveled about the boundless opportunities in Midland and the grit of the West Texas spirit. Charlie's career with Mobil eventually translated into him being transferred to a project in Libya, North Africa. Charlie recounted astonishing experiences about developing oil/gas infrastructure in the deserts of North Africa, including the dangers of crossing the Sahara Desert with the ever-present sandstorms, unpredictable roads, and the remaining minefields and unexploded ordinance of the German North African campaigns of World War II. The experience in Libya was to change the trajectory of Charlie's professional career; he could see that if he stayed with Mobil, a company he very much admired, that he would likely have to uproot his family from Midland and live around the world. This was not desirable to him and Margaret and Charles left Mobil and spent several years in engineering consulting business in 1964.
Charlie had a reputation as a precise engineer of profound integrity, a reputation that stayed with him his entire life. His abilities afforded him the opportunity to be lured to the First National Bank of Midland in 1966. This started a meteoric career in banking at a time when West Texas, and the industry in general, was experiencing an unprecedented boom cycle. During this time. Charlie rose in the ranks at the First National Bank, ultimately being named, Chief Executive Officer and President in 1975. Charles Fraser loved the First National Bank of Midland and poured his heart and soul into the institution. He was enormously proud of the way "the bank" valued its customers and encouraged success. Unfortunately, like countless other people in the business community at that time, Charles could not have predicted the bust in oil prices that was to come in the early 80s. This ultimately proved to be the undoing of the First National Bank of Midland, along with innumerable other venerable businesses in Texas and beyond. Charlie weathered much undeserved criticism during this hard time, but he remained proud. Sadly, the deep wounds persisted for the rest of Charlie's life. A lesser man would have receded into oblivion during such a traumatic experience, where criticism and mistruths were rampant. Despite those traumas, Charlie remained bullish in the oil and gas business, proud of Midland, Texas, and committed to the legacy of which he was an integral part. He spent the rest of his life in Midland in the oil business.
He was forever interested in the science of engineering. He marveled at the new generations of technology and entrepreneurship. He loved geology, geophysics, and all matters of science. He also loved the outdoors. Charlie was particularly fond of hunting and fishing with his sons and grandchildren. Charlie was a regular fixture in the Wolf Camp Grill in the Midland Petroleum Club where he had most of his evening meals. His lunch routines in all the Midland clubs were a joy for him where he relished the camaraderie of many friends and colleagues, many of whom have now gone on to their reward.
He particularly enjoyed knowing the new generation of energy-related entrepreneurs and ironically his last meal at the Petroleum Club extended for several hours where he shared his insights about his 70-year career in the oil and gas business in West Texas, a fitting end for a guy from the oil patch.
Charlie was a man of paradoxes; he could be hard and tough in external profile; this belied a tender and caring heart. He dearly loved his sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren and he took much joy in knowing about their lives and successes. He was not a person who sought accolade or prestige. He pursued intellectual advancement with great passion, bordering on religion. In fact, during the last years of his life, he "re-took" many of his freshman college courses, including chemistry, just to see if he could, and started using a slide rule for his engineering projects just to prove he could still do the work with precision (he could).
Charles achieved his private pilot's license in 1963. He became an accomplished pilot of single engine, dual engine and ultimately high-performance jets. His favorite plane was a V-tail Bonanza which took him and his family to many exciting places ("let's go to the Big Bend for the afternoon"). In 1983, Charlie picked up son Chuck at medical school in Galveston, and they flew down to Port Mansfield, Texas, a place he had heard about from friends who loved Gulf Coast fishing. They landed their plane and walked into town with fishing rods in hand, knowing no one and having no place to stay, asked to find a guide and enjoyed two magical days catching reds and specs. This was his adventurer's spirit.
Charlie was predeceased by his mother, Juanita Fedora Tholl Fraser, his father Alexander Duncan Fraser Jr. and his sister, Nita Ann Fraser Buddenforf. He is survived by his sons, Charles D. Fraser Jr., MD, Alexander Duncan Fraser and wife, Ellen Foreman Fraser, seven nieces and nephews, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Charlie was a great friend to the staff of Petroleum Club and they were generous, caring, and kind to him. The family would like to offer specific thanks to Idia Herrera, the entire staff at Midland Petroleum Club, Dr. Manish Dimri, Dr. Shelton Viney and the medical staff at Midland Memorial Hospital, and all the friends and family who have been so supportive during this transition. A private memorial service will be held with close friends and family. Memorial gifts may be made to the Texas Tech Department of Surgery Resident Education Fund at Midland Memorial Hospital, The University of Texas Austin - Department of Petroleum Engineering, or The University of Texas - Dell Medical School.
Arrangements were under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.